Future Status

Of American Samoa

Letter to the Editor COMMENT on possible union of Ameri can and Western Samoa, in your Oc tober issue, suggests to me that you might be interested in the following ex tract from my forthcoming book, “South Seas: An Anatomy of Paradise.” It rep resents the conclusions on this subject

at which I have arrived after exploring the situation in both Samoas earlier this year, and after digesting the results of the United Nations mission to Western Samoa. Naturally, this is from an Ameri can point of view: “The UN mission certainly exercised good judgment in politely neglecting the project of union between American and Western Samoa.

“It is hard to blame the individual Samoan who, in order to visit his emotionally important relatives the other side of the imaginary line between Upolu

and Tutuila, must pay cash for a special permit.

“But the future of the scheme is not bright. The higher chiefs of American Samoa look askance at it, partly because it would put them back directly under the superior mana of the three ‘kings,’ partly because the shrewder ones under stand that the US Navy—or whatever American government agency eventually takes charge—will have more to spend and more posts to fill, particularly in the prestige-rich marine auxiliary corps that the Navy maintains, than would fall to Tutuila’s lot if government were consoli dated at Apia . . .

“The project will probably founder, anyway, on the issue of what Power would be in charge if union were effected.

“There is no sane reason why the States should take over the most persistent head ache in the Pacific —responsibility for Western Samoa.

“If US Navy control of facilities at Pagopago were assured, the States might conceivably hand over American Samoa to New Zealand, as an addition to the present UN trusteeship. But the details of such an arrangement would make an international lawyer see spots before the eyes: a national military force would be localised dictator of an area in an en vironment controlled by an alien nation, not as sovereign, but as deputy of a supra-national organisation.

“It would be more logical for New Zea land, using the security features possible in UN trusteeships, to take over the Pagopago base under agreement permit ting the US full use on demand.

“But that would outrage the US Navy, which has never been noted for the more latitudinarian type of logic; and, unless the New Zealand Navy has more to spend than it ever had yet, would cause economic revolution on Tutuila.

“A solution cannot even be envisaged.

The conclusion must be that the union of the two Samoas is going to wait a long time.” , * The feeling hereabouts seems to be that the UN mission’s recommendations, lust now under consideration by the Trustee ship Council, will be endorsed and approved by the General Assembly.

It is not at all unlikely that the US Navy administration in American Samoa will take some measures roughly corre sponding to those of the New Zealand programme announced in August for Western Samoa.

Well-wishers of the Samoan people, among whom I should like to be counted, will be watching closely to see whether the contrast between Western Samoa’s ex pressed ambitions, and the innovations to which New Zealand is committed as trustee, will blind the Samoans to their very real opportunities under the new arrangements.

I am, etc.,

J. C. Furnas.

Lebanon, New Jersey,

Usa, 6/12/47.

EDITORIAL NOTE: Mr. Furnas is a distinguished writer, and his conclusions may not be lightly passed over. But the following are facts; The people of the Samoan Archipelago are one in race, language, history, out look and tradition.

The archipelago was arbitrarily divided, 50 years ago, between Germany and the United States. The two sections of Samoa were separated as completely as though they belonged to different races.

It is a remarkable and completely illogical thing that perpetuation of this improper political division should be sought by the United, States whose proudest boast is that it stands always for racial unity, political liberty, and complete freedom of national de velopment.